THE MAD POST

Submitted by Gary Ward, General Manager & C.O.O.

There seems to be no end to the extreme heat, but despite the conditions both contractors continue to make excellent progress.

Doug Carrick was on site yesterday, making final adjustments to contours on #12, #6 and #17, he’s pleased with the progress and work quality at each area.

This week, we expect to have irrigation completed on #12 and #17 green. Irrigation at #12 should be completed by end of day Tuesday and then they will move to #17 green.
The Better Billy Bunker polymer will be applied to #12, #17 and #6 Tuesday and it will be quality tested on Wednesday. At that point, it’s ready to receive water and #12 fairway will be irrigated to permit final shaping before sod and seed are applied.

By the end of next week, we expect work at all three zones to be wrapped up and the golf course contractors to be working full-time on hole-by hole bunkers. They will move from #17 fairway bunkers to #16 greenside bunkers and then #15 fairway bunkers and expect to take approximately one week on each hole. It is possible #15 can be played to a temporary green while they work further up the fairway, but during the period when they are on both holes at the same time, both holes will be closed and after completing play at #14 we will have you move on to #17. 

We had originally planned to have the irrigation team on #15 and #16 working opposite the hole that the course contractors are on. But, depending on the temperatures next week we may shift the irrigation team to #10 and #11 first. #10 and #11 are smaller areas that will take less time to complete and both typically hold water. As a result, Chad is more comfortable they can sustain a longer period of time without water compared to #15, #16 or #17. Especially, with #15 and #17 being par 5’s, each will take a week to complete, and our current irrigation system doesn’t allow him to isolate areas like the new one will. This means if he turns off water to #15, #16 and #17 are also without water, a big risk in these temperatures.

Submitted by Carl Penfold, Head Professional

The temp green on hole #6 has been in play for a couple of weeks now. I have received a lot of feedback from members that it is playing “too easy”, and there was some concern that it may impact their handicap. I consulted with Golf Ontario this week and they informed me that the hole could no longer be played as a par 4. Since the temp green will be in place for the remainder of the year, and early next, the decision was made to change the par from a 4 to a 3.

This came into effect as of yesterday in Score Centre and will also be adjusted for our events that use Golf Genius. This will allow our members to continue posting scores on the 6^th hole. Here are the yardages to the centre of the green from each tee:
GOLD – 229
BLUE – 210
GREEN – 200
WHITE/PURPLE – 187
RED – 166
YELLOW – 91

The yardage is not the only change; the ratings and slopes have been adjusted as well. Despite these changes, the handicap index holes will remain the same. For the men, hole #6 will remain the 15^th stroke index, for the women, it will stay as the 13^th. Since we already have a stock of scorecards to get us through the remainder of the season, there is no plan to discard and print new ones. Please make sure you continue to post hole-by-hole scores and stay informed on all project related news.

After a busy week which included multiple events, we have a quieter stretch for the next few weeks before Ryder Cup and MADheim in early September. In the absence of events, this means there will be plenty of times available for members to play. Despite the project, and the hot weather, it is exciting to report that rounds were UP for the month of June 6.5%, July 2.5% and currently 2.4% in August. Let’s hope this trend continues right through the fall.

Submitted by PA Irwin-Allen, Ladies Captain
 

Submitted by Colin Tyler, Men's Captain

With just two games left in our regular season, a thrilling playoff picture is shaping up! Team Grey and Team Black are currently tied at the top, but Team White is in close pursuit. Things could also fall the way of Team Green and Light Blue, who are in a position to make a big move and jump into one of those coveted top two spots. Your participation is crucial in these final two weeks!

Submitted by Michelle Larcher, Food & Beverage Manager

Celebrating Our Amazing Team & Award-Winning Season

As we pass the halfway mark of our golf season, we want to recognize the incredible individuals who have made Mad River Golf Club truly special. For many of our team members, it’s time to head back to school — some returning to high school, others beginning their first year away from home, and many continuing their studies toward their goals.

It is because of these fine individuals that Mad River remains a hidden gem — a club that many want to be part of, whether as a member or as a team member who returns year after year. I love being part of a group that’s always striving to elevate the member experience — whether it’s having your clubs ready for tee-off, a friendly wave from the grounds crew, Pros who know your club preferences or clothing style, or having your favourite beverage brought to you the moment you walk into the dining room. Every visit is made personal and memorable.